Insights

The U.S. Supreme Court Declines Home Care Minimum Wage Case

Posted on Monday, June 27, 2016 7:01 PM

The Supreme Court has refused to hear Home Care Association of America v. Weil, which was to fight for overtime rights for home care workers.

For decades, home care workers were considered “companion” workers. This resulted in no overtime and minimum wage rules. In October 2013, these rules changed when the Department of Labor published a new rule.

The new rule won at the Federal District Court level before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the DOL’s move, which went into effect in October 2015.

Industry groups lashed out against the rule to the Supreme Court, in regards to extending overtime and minimum wage protections to 2 million home care workers. The following would potentially happen to our nation:• Cash-strapped states with new and unaffordable costs• Pressure on profits and staffing

“Home care is difficult work, and has long been undervalued,” stated Jodi M. Sturgeon, president of the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI), in a prepared statement issued Monday. “Following today’s decision, we hope that state legislatures will move swiftly to ensure home care providers have the necessary funds to comply with the rule and avoid any disruption of services to consumers.”

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